Dave looked pained. He had a big, pink face, Dave, just verging on being a bit moon-shaped, and it sagged now, as he filled her in on the news. ‘Uggh, it’s really awful. Stephen went round the other night to see John and he wasn’t there – but apparently John had told Robyn that he was out with him, Stephen, I mean. So Robyn was confused and Steve had to make up an excuse on the spot, just in case this was John organizing some big secret surprise for Robyn or something . . .’

‘I’m guessing it was not a big, secret surprise for Robyn,’ Paula put in, heart sinking. ‘Not a nice one anyway.’

‘No. Because when Stephen actually caught up with him on the phone last night, John told him he’s been having a fling with this woman – she’s twenty-two, can you believe it, one of his students, and they’ve both gone off to Edinburgh!’

‘Edinburgh? What the hell . . . ?’ Paula stared at him in shock. ‘And she’s twenty-two? You’re kidding me.’

‘God, I wish I was. Stephen’s gone up there now, got the train this morning; he’s hoping to talk some sense into John. Get him to come home and face up to his responsibilities.’

‘And apologize to his poor bloody wife,’ Paula finished, stunned by this news. She thought of Robyn’s sweet, shy face and felt a terrible stab of guilt that she hadn’t got round to calling her recently. Robyn was devoted to John! She absolutely worshipped the ground he walked on. Her whole world must have fallen apart in the last week. ‘Bloody hell, Dave, I can’t believe this.’ She shook her head. ‘What’s got into him?’

‘Search me,’ said Dave grimly. ‘Horrible, isn’t it? I only heard about it myself today.’ He pulled a face. ‘First Dad, now John – it’s like the family’s falling apart this summer.’

‘Don’t say that,’ Paula replied automatically. She hated the thought of the family fragmenting and breaking down. She never wanted that to happen! ‘Look, their flight’s landed,’ she said, seeing that the screen nearest them had updated. ‘I guess today isn’t the day to tell Mum and Dad about John, do you agree? We can save that little bombshell at least until they’ve had a chance to unpack.’

‘Definitely,’ Dave said. ‘Mum’s going to go nuts. We definitely need to get her out of the airport before we break the news, otherwise she’ll be straight on the next flight to Edinburgh to dish out one of her special bollockings.’